Uylsses S. Grant

Born: April 27, 1822, Point Pleasant, Ohio

Died: July 23, 1885, Mount McGregor, New York

Term: 1869-1877 served two terms

Political Party: Republican

Vice President: Grant's first term Schuyler Colfax. Grant's second term Henry Wilson until he died in 1875, no new Vice Presidents after that.

General Uylsses S. Grant was one of the most reconized war heros during the Civil War. With his most successful battles at Vicksburg. Overall Grant did alot of good things during his presidency like focused on Civil Rights, and he passed acts dealing with the Ku Klux Klan. For Grant's presidency Grant deserves a B.

As the second President from Ohio, Grant was elected as the 18th President of the United States in 1868 and again was re-elected in 1872. In his re-election Grant had the benefit form the loyal support of political cartoonist form Harper's Weekly Thomas Nast. When Grant was elected the American people hoped to turmoil. As President Grant presided over the Government as much as he had ran the Army. As a result he brought part of his army to the White House. During his campaign for re-election in 1872, Grant was attacked by Liberal Rebuplican reformers. During the aftermath of the Civil War Grant allowed radical reconstruction to run its course however Grant need to provide support with the military force.

Civil Rights and Civil Service reform was a big part of Grant's presidency. A major concern Grant focused for pushing Civil Rights with African Americans and native Indain tribes. As a president for bothe terms Grant made progress in both civil and human rights. He ended up passing the 15th amendment which gave the freedom of voting which was ratified in 1870. He also passed the Ku Klux Klan Act. In 1869 as weel as 1871 Grant passed bills promoting voting rights and prosecuted Klan leaders and later signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which entitled equal public accommadations and jury selection. Grant was the first U.S. president to recommend a professional civil service. THis movment for the Civil Service reform was the growth of the National Government after the American Civil War. Grant was also a man of justice he instinctively protected those who he thought were victims of injustice, he aslo belived in loyalty with his friends. It was more important for Grant to loyal to a friend the let his Presidency suffer in reputation.

The Panic of 1873 was another obstacle for Grant. The Panic hit the country during Grant's second term. The first law that he passed in March 1869 establishing the value of greenback currency. By 1875 Grant's administration was ruined while the Democrats had contral of the House GRant could no longer Pass legislation. Various administrationa closed in shame, but Grant's closed because it was discredited.

Grant was also hevaily dealed with economic as well as foregin affiars. Grant's administration first accomplishment was signing the Act to strengthen the Public Credit. Other accomnplishments follwed like having taxes reduced by $300 million and annual rates dropped by $30 million. Foregin affairs were a noticable accomplishment with the 1871 treaty of Washington which settled American claims against Britian concerns with the wartime activities of the British built Confederate raider the Alabama. Grant also helped to support rebels in Cuba with military assistance. Grant supported the rebels, however he did not want to go to war with Spain.

Vetos: Grant vetoed more bills than any of the Presidents before him. He vetoed a total of 93 vetoes during his time 45 were regular and 48 were pocket vetoes. Grant had 4 of his vetos overridden by Congress.

Grants biggest effect on future Presidency's was passing the Fifteenth Admendment which is still in the Constitution today. Overall Grant didn't have many bad things happen to him while in his terms the only major thing was the Pain of 1873. Grant deserves a B for his presidency for his passing of the Civil Rights Acts, adding the 15th amendment, as well as the prosecution of the KKK leaders.

Bibliography:
"Ulysses S. Grant." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 12 Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org>.

"Ulysses S. Grant." Ulysses S. Grant. Whitehouse.gov. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. <http://www.whitehouse.gov>.